Long Shelf-Life Fresh Products - Cost Effectiveness, Health and Wellbeing, Sustainability and Supply Chain Uncertainty

Industry Insights: Long Shelf-Life Fresh Products asks: can ‘long-life fresh’ products be successfully offered and help reduce food waste? The report covers cost effectiveness, convenient flexibility, sustainable choices, health and wellbeing and supply chain uncertainty.

The long-life product market consists predominantly of ambient, shelf-stable goods; however, there is ample opportunity for brands to elongate the shelf life of fresh produce to entice consumers, reduce food waste, and improve the economy. The demand for fresh food overall is high due to consumers actively trying to make healthier choices and consume products that provide nutritional benefits, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. The idea of fresh fruit and vegetables not lasting long enough is problematic for consumers who are on tighter budgets, as purchasing these products might seem wasteful and not the most cost-effective option.

Scope

• The short shelf life of fresh goods is a concern for budget-conscious consumers, as it may lead to waste and less cost-effective choices.
• The fresh produce market is at risk of consumers avoiding and moderating consumption. Consumers value longer shelf life in products because it offers flexibility in consumption.
• Convenience is essential to many consumers, and while canned goods fulfil this demand, there's an opportunity for longer-lasting fresh products. Using additives and preservatives is seen as environmentally harmful because they can contaminate natural resources and disrupt the food chain, making it crucial for brands to find sustainable methods of preserving products.
• Longer shelf life for food products benefits consumers by promoting better meal planning and encourages less impulse consumption. However, it is important for long-lasting goods to avoid unhealthy preservatives.
• Consumers are increasingly drawn to shelf-stable food products for reassurance in times of economic crisis and supply-chain uncertainty, but this preference limits the appeal of fresh products, which have shorter shelf lives.

Reasons to Buy

• Understand the growing market for fresh products that have longer shelf lives in order to appeal to budget and sustainability conscious consumers.
• Understand what manufacturers are currently doing in terms of innovation and how consumers are responding.